New Distribution Agreement with Synapse Biomedical Announced

SYDNEY, Australia. Aurora BioScience Pty. Ltd. today announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for Australia and New Zealand with Synapse Biomedical Inc. to provide that company’s innovative NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS)®.

The NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System introduces groundbreaking neurostimulation technology designed to help spinal cord injury patients and other patients with breathing problems, such as Motor Neurone Disease, decrease their dependency on mechanical ventilation – enhancing their quality of life. The NeuRx DPS® uses a minimally invasive procedure to establish a deeper and more comfortable breathing pattern.

The NeuRx DPS® consists of four (4) electrodes implanted in the diaphragm to stimulate the muscle, a fifth (5th) electrode under the skin to complete the electrical circuit, a connector holder, a cable and an external battery powered pulse generator. The pulse generator provides the timing and control of stimulus to regulate movement of the diaphragm muscle and affect respiration.

Aurora BioScience entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Synapse Biomedical Inc. in March 2014; under the agreement Aurora Bioscience will be exclusively responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution in both the Australian and New Zealand markets.

“Every now and then, a truly innovative and important medical advancement occurs; one that has the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients. The NeuRx DPS® is exactly one of those products” said Darren Banks, Managing Director of Aurora BioScience. “This technology really is life transforming”.

Synapse Biomedical Inc. was founded in September 2002 to commercialize the NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS)® that has been developed over a twenty-year period at Case Western Reserve University and the University Hospitals of Cleveland. The innovative research performed at these institutions has led to significant advances in the state of the art of electrical stimulation for the treatment of chronic respiratory insufficiency. This innovation allows the technology to meet clinical needs, beyond the ability of the currently available systems, in spinal cord injuries, in the diaphragm conditioning in muscular dystrophies (such as MND) and in respiratory short-term intensive care setting.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with such an innovative company as Synapse Biomedical and believe the NeuRx DPS® system can have a significant impact of patient’s lives here in Australia and New Zealand. We are expecting to be involved in our first procedures in April 2014 after finishing meetings and discussions with both clinical opinion leaders and Patient Advocacy groups”. stated Mr. Banks.

About Aurora BioScience Pty Ltd

Located in Sydney Australia, Aurora BioScience is committed to providing advanced, high quality medical devices and healthcare products to assist medical professionals within Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands healthcare markets, to contribute to the enhancement of patient’s quality of life. Our areas of interest include cancer therapies, neurology, pulmonology, and haematology and blood products.

Our culture is best described by its people: smart, driven, energetic and committed to improve the lives of individuals with neurological impairment, such as spinal cord injury, motor neurone disease and others.

At Synapse Biomedical, our mission is to commercialize our life transforming neurostimulation technology platform used to treat people with respiratory insufficiency.